Commutair Crew Bases

[CA1900]

How can it vary so much? It all depends on how the company's doing, and whether people are moving out to other companies or not. In 2000, we had people upgrading who had been there about 14 months. People hired a year later than them waited almost three years for upgrade, because the company furloughed half the pilots and cut the fleet in half in August of 2001. (Yes, we planned ahead for 9/11. Har.)

A couple of years later, we were able to enter the Cleveland market. Continental Express's union was able to negotiate jobs for their furloughees with CommutAir as part of that deal. Those folks were caught up in our rapid expansion, and upgraded in less than a year.

So things change very quickly, and with very little notice. For all I know, half a dozen Dash-8s could show up on property, and we'd have a big hiring/upgrade spree. I wouldn't count on that , but you never know.

Right now, it's mainly FOs that are leaving for other regionals, so while there are new-hires, there are few upgrades. The company's not expanding right now, and there's talk of reducing the number of airplanes. Obviously, that hurts upgrades.

I think the current group that just upgraded has been here a little over a year and a half.

 

[Geronimo4497]

Continental Express's union was able to negotiate jobs for their furloughees with CommutAir as part of that deal. Those folks were caught up in our rapid expansion, and upgraded in less than a year.

Oops, that must have made some people real happy! I really appreciate the good info.

 

[CA1900]

Glad to help, and yes, it sure did make those folks happy. The bulk of them ended up going back to the right seat in the RJ at Continental Express, but we had half a dozen that stayed on here as captains instead. It's all a gamble.

 

[wanabe_fo]

seniority number

out of pure curiosity, as a former UCA guy, what is the current most junior captains seniority number?

 

[Insatiable]

I believe it's in the 750's

 

[Sky Jet]

I can't believe they still count from one (JD). I was 67 I believe in '91. I am sure that auto bus and I were there at the same time and we most definately had a crew base in EWR. 2 crews for AM and PM service. Same thing in PWM.
Sky Jet